By: Linda M. Crate 

you could be more than an animal
someone who prowls at night with their dog
looking for an easy target;
just because i’m a woman doesn’t mean
i won’t fight,
and you won’t like me if you keep
barking up this tree—
i don’t think you understand that what you do is
unwanted and ignorant or maybe you
do, and just don’t care;
all i know is i’ve lived here almost a year
without problems,
and then two nights ago you walked into my life
i really wish you hadn’t—
you’re a stranger than no girl wants to
meet,
the kind-of guy that thinks hitting on
strangers is perfectly acceptable
that any girl is fair game;
i hate to break it to you but if you bother me
again, you will not like it
there will be consequences for your lust—
i am not just a pretty face,
my body is not
yours to have if you cannot accept that i have
a heart; a soul, passions, and talents
then you don’t deserve me
i am not the canary
you get to lock behind a cage who sings
only songs for you—
i am the phoenix that will burn through all your
feathers of lust,
scorch you with the hot flame that’ll burn
desire right out of you
because i am the girl that avenges the weak and helpless
i will not be made one of them.